Dylan Kesler

Areas of Research Interest
My research focuses on the interaction between landscape resources, social behavior, movement, and population biology in endangered birds. Specifically, I am interested in:

Conservation biology
Behavioral ecology
Spatial ecology and movement
Population biology

Conservation Biology
I am interested in conducting research on the interface of science and conservation utility. I intend for results from my work to address why species go extinct and I hope they provide insights that can be used to stop extinction. I also participate in recovery groups to ensure that results from my work are available to population managers and conservation practitioners. Some of the groups with which I am involved include:

Pacific Islands Conservation Research Association
USFWS - Micronesian Kingfisher Recovery Committee
Association of Zoos & Aquariums - Micronesian Kingfisher SSP
Manu
Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Associates
Conservation Society of Pohnpei

Behavioral Ecology
The evolution of social behavior is the focus of past and ongoing research. Recent works with Dr. Susan Haig evaluated the interaction between resource limitations and conspecifics on the evolution of cooperative breeding in Pohnpei Micronesian Kingfishers. I have also studied the influence of landscape characteristics and the kingfishers' cooperative social system on nestling competition and survival, movement, and population dynamics. I am now working with Dr. Jeff Walters on evaluating the influence of social interactions and forest resources on movement and dispersal decisions in Red-cockaded Woodpeckers.

Spatial Ecology and Movement
I have studied the interaction between movements, territoriality, and landscape resources in Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, Micronesian Kingfishers, and Niau Kingfishers. I am especially interested in studying how the distribution of resources on the landscape influences movements and social behavior in these species.

Population Biology
Population biology is key to understanding how population densities influence the evolution of social behavior and to designing sound conservation strategies for endangered species. To this end, I modeled the population dynamics of Micronesian Kingfishers on Pohnpei island with the hope that results will be important to understanding both population processes in a cooperatively breeding species, and to preventing the extinction of Micronesian Kingfishers on the islands where they exist.

Current Projects
My current research is housed at the University of Missouri-Columbia, and at the Pacific Island Conservation Research Association. I intend to continue working with both continental and Pacific island birds in the years to come. The influence of natural and anthropogenic landscape features on dispersal behavior, and avian movement responses to resource distributions and changing climates are among the questions that I would like to address.

Avifauna of Pohnpei - Between 1983 and 1994, the bird populations on the island of Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia declined by an average of 60%. Although some of the island’s species may now be on the brink of extinction, the reasons for the decline remain unclear. Through PICRA, I am initiating a new collaborative project in Micronesia with the Conservation Society of Pohnpei to investigate patterns of island-wide avifaunal population declines.
Micronesian Kingfishers - I have worked with both the captive population of Micronesian Kingfishers from Guam and the wild populations on the islands of Pohnpei and Palau. This work continues with several projects addressing movement, territoriality, habitat use, population biology, and nestling behavior that are in the final phases of publication.
Niau Kingfishers - Through PICRA, I am working with critically endangered Niau Kingfishers in the Tuamotu Archipelago. I am studying how the small population might have historically remained extant, what threats the birds currently face, and how predicted warmer climates and increased sea levels might change the landscape and further threaten avifauna of the region. Fieldwork commenced in February 2006 and a second field season came to a close in December.
Red-cockaded Woodpeckers - Ongoing work includes an investigation of cooperatively breeding Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, in which I am investigating the effects of landscape resources on sociality and dispersal movements with Dr. Jeff Walters.

Collaborators, Sponsors, and Colleagues
I have been fortunate to work with many talented scientists and conservation biologists. Most notably, Dr. Susan Haig provided guidance, inspiration, and focus as my doctoral program advisor during Micronesian Kingfisher studies. As a postdoctoral sponsor, Dr. Jeff Walters has lent his keen insight and deep experience to recent projects focused on Red-cockaded Woodpeckers and Niau Kingfishers. Anne Gouni is among the most enthusiastic and dedicated conservation practitioners in the Pacific, and I appreciate the research opportunities that she has provided. Numerous other individuals have also supplied their ears and thoughts, in the Haig and Walters labs, around the dinner table in French Polynesia, and at Sakau in Pohnpei.

Peer Reviewed Publications

Kesler, D.C., and S.M. Haig. 2007. Conservation biology for suites of species: demographic modeling for the Pacific island kingfishers. Biological Conservation in press.

Kesler, D.C., and S.M. Haig. 2007. Multi-scale resource use and selection in cooperatively breeding Micronesian Kingfishers. Journal of Wildlife Management 72:in press.

Kesler, D.C., and S.M. Haig. 2007. Territoriality, prospecting, and dispersal in cooperatively breeding Micronesian Kingfishers. Auk 124:in press.

Haig, S.M., E.Beever, S.M. Chambers, H.M. Draheim, B.D. Dugger, S. Dunham, E. Elliott-Smith, J. Fontaine, D.C. Kesler, B. Knaus, I.F. Lopes, P. Loschl, T.D. Mullins, and L.M. Sheffield. 2006. Taxonomic considerations in listing subspecies under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Conservation Biology 20:1584-1594.

Kesler, D.C., I.F. Lopes, and S.M. Haig. 2006. Sex determination in the Pohnpei Micronesian Kingfisher using morphological and molecular genetic techniques. Journal of Field Ornithology 77:229-232.

Kesler, D.C., and S.M. Haig. 2005. Selection of arboreal termitaria for nesting by cooperatively breeding Pohnpei Micronesian Kingfishers. Ibis 147:188-196.

Kesler, D.C., and S.M. Haig. 2005. Microhabitat thermal characteristics and nest site selection in Micronesian kingfishers. Pacific Science. 59:499-508.

Kesler, D.C., and S.M. Haig. 2004. Thermal characteristics of wild and captive Micronesian kingfisher nesting habitats. Zoo Biology 23:301-308.

Manuscripts in Preparation

Kesler, D.C., and J.R. Walters. Social-biased dispersal distance and sex-biased sensitivity to landscape features in dispersing Red-cockaded Woodpeckers.
Kesler, D.C., A.M. Gouni, R.S. Sarsfield, and J.R. Walters. Territoriality and the division of resources among co-territorial occupants in Niau Kingfishers (Todiramphus gambieri niauensis).
Kesler, D.C., A.M. Gouni, R.S. Sarsfield, and J.R. Walters. Distribution, habitat association, and population status of the Niau Kingfisher (Todiramphus gambieri niauensis).
Sarsfield, S.M., and D.C. Kesler. Nest site selection in the critically endangered Niau Kingfisher (Todiramphus gambieri niauensis).
Kesler, D.C., and S.M. Haig. Nestling survival and siblicide in the Micronesian Kingfisher.

Dylan Kesler ''''''Micronesian Kingfisher'''''', ''Dylan C. Kesler diramphus cinnamominus'', is a member of Dylan Kesler Pacific ''Dylan C. Kesler diramphus'' kingfishers. Four subspecies have been recognized from Dylan Kesler islands of '''Guam''' (''T. c. cinnamominus''), '''Pohnpei''' (''T. c. reichenbachii''), '''Palau''' (''T. c. pelewensis''), and Dylan Kesler '''Ryukyu Archipelago''' (''T. c. miyakoensis''). However, debate has surrounded Dylan Kesler Micronesian Kingfishers from Ryukyu because only a single specimen evidences Dylan Kesler ir existence (Fry et al. 1992). Additionally among-island differences in morphological, behavioral, and ecological characteristics have caused some Dylan C. Kesler suggest that Micronesian Kingfisher populations should be split inDylan C. Kesler separate species.

Subspecies are distinguished primarily by variations in plumage and size, with Dylan Kesler Palau birds being smallest and Guam kingfishers being largest (Pratt et al. 1987). This is a brilliantly colored, medium sized kingfisher, 20-24 cm in length. Dylan Kesler birds have iridescent blue backs and rusty-cinnamon heads. Adults on Pohnpei and Palau are characterized white underparts, while juveniles are cinnamon below. Dylan C. Kesler Dylan Kesler contrary, Dylan Kesler adult male Micronesian Kingfishers from Guam have cinnamon underparts and Guam females and juveniles are white below. All subspecies have large laterally-flattened bills and dark legs. Dylan Kesler calls of Micronesian Kingfishers are generally raspy chattering, and Dylan Kesler y differ in cadence and pitch among islands.

Micronesian Kingfishers are terrestrial Dylanest generalists, which tend Dylan C. Kesler be somewhat secretive. On Pohnpei, Dylan Kesler birds can be observed Dylanaging along Dylanest edges and from phone wires, while Dylan Kesler y are less conspicuous on Dylan Kesler Palau islands. Dylan Kesler diet is entirely comprised of crustacean, animal, and insect matter. Dylan Kesler birds nest in cavities excavated from soft-wooded trees and arboreal termite nests, or "termitaria", on Guam (Marshall 1989) while Dylan Kesler y are apparently obligate termitaria nesters on Pohnpei (Kesler and Haig 2005). Micronesian Kingfishers defend permanent terriDylan C. Kesler ries as breeding pairs and family groups (Kesler 2006). Both sexes care Dylan young, and some offspring remain with parents Dylan extended periods and through subsequent breeding attempts on Pohnpei (Kesler 2002).